I haven’t posted much on this site lately, but I have been working on getting a forum for the Australian Cabaret Community up and running at www.cabaretconfessional.squarespace.com

I know the url is a little long at the moment, and I’m working on that.

Will post here again soon. In the meantime I’m in Sydney this weekend playing with the fabulous Lillias White from NYC. We’re at the Playhouse in the Opera House Thurs Jul 2-Sat Jul 4. Bookings can be made via the Opera House website.

Have a look over at the Cabaret Confessional site and I’ll see you back here soon!

Interview with Bernadette Peters in The Australian ahead of her headlining performance at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

After a Good Friday off, Metro Street is back today with another two performances and then another two weeks in which Adelaide audiences can see Matthew Robinson’s new Australian musical. As a friend of mine mentioned yesterday, there aren’t many new Australian musicals, so this is (in Adam’s words) part of Australian theatre history!

Verity Hunt-Ballard steals the show as Kerry, the loud country bogan with (predictably) a heart of gold.
Read the review from the Messenger News.

Impeccable cast, staging and music hit all the right notes.
Review by Murray Bramwell in The Australian.
“But it is Byrnes’s spine-tingling solo, Dignity, Sue’s overwhelming cry from the heart at her impending death, that especially reveals Robinson’s ambition and his memorable achievement.”

For years now, Australian movies have been obsessed with the grit and grime of everyday life. Now, music theatre gets in on the act with Metro Street, a modern musical about suburban angst.
Review from IndependentWeekly.com

From Australian Stage Online – Metro Street is a stellar new show that propels Australian musical theatre into a new galaxy.

To book tickets, phone BASS on 131 246 or book online following this link.

Review by Samela Harris on the AdelaideNow.com website this afternoon.

Stars old and new twinkle and dazzle with equal brilliance over Metro Street. There’s luminous Nancye Hayes, mighty Debra Byrne, ethereal Jude Henshall, heart-throb Cameron Goodall and thrilling Verity Hunt- Ballard…read more.

I’ve just been sent an invite to see Julie Wilson perform in Sydney on June 14. Given that date, I’m predicting that at Wednesday’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival launch they’ll announce that Julie will perform in Adelaide as well.

I’ve got a friend in New York who is a close friend of Ms Wilson, and I had the privilege of seeing her perform in Sydney a number of years ago at the Sydney Cabaret Convention. I can’t remember the song she sang, but I do remember her mesmerising me with the feather boa she used during her act!

Also to appear in the 2009 Adelaide Cabaret Festival – Bernadette Peters and songwriter John Bucchino.

After weeks of rehearsal in the depths of the Adelaide Festival Centre while the Playhouse was being renovated above, this week we’ve moved into the theatre and are currently ‘teching’ Metro Street. All seems to be going well – the cast are fantastic, the band sounds great and all the elements are fitting together as planned! Looking forward to our first performance this Friday April 3.

I don’t know much, but I know I love a good secret. So lean in close and I’ll whisper the details I DO know…
Date: Tonight – Friday Feb 20, 2009
Venue: Spiegeltent – Garden of Unearthly Delights (Rundle Park, Adelaide)
Time: 10pm
Performers include: 2 of my favourites – Libby O’Donovan & Catherine Campbell
Tickets from: Fringetix at the entrance to the Garden.

Tell your friends – but quietly…remember “sshh…it’s a secret!”

From a blog called The Producer’s Perspective written by Ken Davenport. Read it here.

A recent article at Yahoo News reports that Burt Bacharach has a new album in the US Billboard Top 200 Album chart.

Titled “Live at the Sydney Opera House”, it debuted on the Billboard chart at number 72 last week, making it his highest charting album in 37 years.

Book tickets to see Rent here now!

Adelaide Theatre Guide

Has Rod Schultz ever given a sub-standard performance? He’s so right as Collins, great singing voice, vocals always comprehensible!

Australian Stage Online

[Josh] Brittain’s singing and acting performance as the introverted Mark, is inspired. This role is pivotal as Mark is the filmmaker who is both a central character and yet also a quiet observer. Brittain brings an intelligence and sweetness to Mark that is appealing and easily creates a window into the world of the more flamboyant characters. 

Paul Rodda

[Director Scott] Nell has cast this production perfectly – with a cast of leads, none more or less exceptional than the next, even the ensemble is capable of handling any part.

Theatre Australia